Studies on nano suspensions of silver sol and redispersed nanocrystallite silver in aqueous and alcoholic media

摘要

Nanocrystallite silver and silver sol were prepared and characterized by UV-visible spectra, XRD, TEM and HRTEM. The crystallite silver is re-dispersed in two different media, namely, water and alcohol and sonicated before ultrasonic investigation. The silver sol was used as such. Three different models for the propagation of ultrasound through two phase media are compared in these three different types of nano suspensions. Effect of particle size and medium on ultrasonic velocity (U), compressibility (κ) impedance (Z) and viscous relaxation time (τ) is studied. The particle concentration range was 0.2-1 v/v. Density and viscosity of the dispersion and sol are measured at different particle volume fractions. Effective density and ultrasonic velocity are computed by Urick, Kuster and Toks?z and Urick and Ament models and compared with experimental velocities. Values of effective density obtained by using Urick and Urick and Ament equations closely agree with experimental results of density while Urick's equation prediction of velocity is in close agreement with the experimental velocities. This comes as a surprise in view of the large density difference between the medium and suspended particle and suggests the possibility of the balancing effect of the inertial and viscous forces operating in the suspension.